Inexperienced artists often paint shadows into their painting as an afterthought, without realizing the importance they play as a part of the overall composition. Shadows can create excitement and mystery, creating intrigue and entertaining a viewer. Although shadows are dark because of the absence of light, they can be colorful with reflected light from surrounding objects. An artists quest to master light should be a good understanding of the importance of shadows and shadow shapes.

Artist, Richard D. Burton, insists on being as careful as possible to get the angle of shadows correct, paying attention to the angle of the sun and the time of the day. Often, his drawing and paintings include many different objects that will create shadow shapes. Everything has to be considered. He explains:

“When I have a composition in mind, I usually pose in the light at a certain time of day when I think the sun is at an angle that I wish to paint the picture. It gives me a source to consider. For example, the picture of me posing to the left is a study of shadow shapes of a man sitting and reading a newspaper about 1:oo o’clock in the afternoon, eastern time zone, early March. The sun is obviously to my high upper left side.’

“I’m not planning the composition with a man sitting on his back patio reading a newspaper. The idea for the composition is a man sitting on large cement planter at a Florida festival street scene with a couple of his grandchildren next to him. To the immediate left of them are two bicycles in front of a citrus fruit and drink stand (which the man owns and is working at – he’ll have an apron on to suggest this), indicating the children rode to the scene to meet him at his break time. He, of course, ignores them while catching up on the latest news. The boy ( that will be to his right) will be peeling an orange, and the girl (that will be to his left) will be inspecting her fingernails on her left hand out of boredom. Behind them (in the background) will be some beautiful leafy plants, and to the left of the picture (beginning with the main character’s citrus fruit stand) the several other exhibit stands diminish down the street to their vanishing point. I’m sure as an artist, you can envision this, probably saw it the instant you saw the photograph above…right? But it will only work if I get the shadow shapes and the light correct. There in lies the rub.’

“I got the idea from a visit a couple of years ago when I was walking down 16th street of Miami Beech Florida. I took a few dozen pictures and even wrote a blog post about using some of them to create a composition. If you’d like to visit the blog after you read this one,

go to the picture and click on it >>>”

Tip: Shadows are useful because they give your painting a three dimensional perspective and provides solidity to objects.

Tip: Plan and pay careful attention to shadow shapes in your artwork.

Tip: Make sure shadow directions in every bit of your objects is consistent with the time of day.

Tip: Pay particular attention to reflected light, never failing to paint them into your shadows.